Alice had begun to get bored of just lazing about the side of the river bank with nothing to do when she spotted a white rabbit looking at its watch saying “I’m late, I’m late”. Alice follows the rabbit down into a large rabbit hole under a hedge. This is the start of Alice’s adventures. In the series, Alice encounters odd and peculiar people, animals, and creatures. SMT reporter, also finding herself bored, decides to follow a white rabbit in the heart of Seoul.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ is a fantasy written by Lewis Carroll. The story is about a girl named Alice who after following a white rabbit enters a fantasy world. The tale has passed the test of time, still very popular among adults as well as children. It has been translated into various languages and is read by people all over the world. Each character in the story along with the fantasy world imagery are so wonderfully detailed that paintings, novels, movies, and even songs pay homage to it. Moreover, its narrative style and structure have also greatly influenced later works. Alice Into the Rabbit Hole’ is an exhibition also inspired by the book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The works on display, however, have a more contemporary perspective. To reach this rabbit hole and embark on an adventure like Alice, use public transportation. Take the Gyeongui Line train from Hyochang Park Station, transfer at Wangsimni Station to the Bundang Line, and get off at Seoul Forest Station. The exhibition hall is a 5 minute walk from station.

Welcome to Wonderland

The exhibition consists of 5 parts. The first part, ‘Intro: Alice’s Underland’, leads visitors to Wonderland. The hall space is filled with three-dimensional artwork like forests and captures the essence of travelling down the hole to Wonderland with its dream-like music and lighting. It feels like the very forest where Alice herself got lost following the rabbit. The second section is entitled: Rabbit Hole 1. Around the door, a symbolic rabbit hole, a geometric video gives spectators the sense that they are being sucked into the door. Coming to the center of the second section of the exhibition, visitors smile with anticipation of becoming Alice and setting out on an adventure. The third part of the exhibition comes once visitors pass the ‘Welcome to Wonderland’ banner. Visitors to the exhibition enter 7 different zones, each designed to mirror various features of the book such as Alice, the looking glass, the pool of tears, the Jabberwocky party, the Chessboard Theater, and Alice’s room. There are also 4 interactive zone areas as well. The three most popular zones are the looking glass, Alice’s room, and Happy Unbirthday. The looking glass zone makes use of mirrors to create illusions. This section is also great for taking photos because the light brilliantly reflects off the mirrors. By far, however, the zone ‘Alice’s room’ is the most popular phototaking place. As one enters through the small door, their senses of sight, smell, and hearing are stimulated so that one envisions being in Alice’s actual room. The room is cozy and lightly lit with modest furniture and a single flower pot. The woodsy fragrance envelopes visitors and they are calmed by the pleasing sound of birds’ chirping. Because so many people want to take a photo while seated on Alice’s bed despite its small size, it’s best to go there quickly and the earlier the better to avoid waiting in a long queue. At the Happy Unbirthday zone, people receive presents in celebration of their unbirthday. The gift is a famous passage of a literary work. The last two sections of the exhibition are located outside the general exhibition exit. After leaving through the exit, visitors emerge from the rabbit hole and wake from the dream. Accordingly, the last two parts of the exhibition are entitled: Rabbit Hole 2 and Alice’s Dream.

Being AliceEven though the theme is Alice, this exhibition is not for children. It is for whoever wants to become Alice and to adventure like her. It is especially recommended to Instagramers who want to be Alice, because there are so many photo zones. Lots of photo zones make your timeline colorful. Lastly, don’t forget to stop by souvenir shops. You buy a variety of goods related with Alice.